Surgical stapling system having a lockout mechanism for an incompatible cartridge

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed a replaceable staple cartridge including a sled and an RFID tag. A lockout member includes a distal end. The distal end contacts a proximal portion of the sled as the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the first jaw. A solenoid is configurable in an active configuration and an inactive configuration. The controller places the solenoid in an active configuration when the controller determines the replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with the surgical stapling instrument. The controller places the solenoid in an inactive configuration when an RFID scanner receives a signal from the RFID tag indicative that the replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with the surgical stapling instrument. The lockout member pushes the sled distally as the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the first jaw and the solenoid is in the inactive configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
 an elongate shaft; 
 an end effector, comprising:
 a first jaw; and 
 a second jaw; 
 
 a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in said first jaw, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body comprising a cartridge deck; 
 staples removably stored in said cartridge body; 
 a sled configured to drive said staples out of said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a proximal portion; and 
 an RFID tag comprising stored information; 
 
 an RFID scanner configured to communicate with said RFID tag as said replaceable staple cartridge is being seated in said first jaw; 
 a controller; 
 a lockout member comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said distal end of said lockout member contacts said proximal portion of said sled as said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw; and 
 a solenoid configurable in an active configuration and an inactive configuration, wherein said solenoid comprises:
 a housing; 
 a bolt; 
 a resilient member; and 
 an inductive coil, wherein said controller places said solenoid in said active configuration when said controller determines said replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with said surgical stapling instrument, wherein said bolt and said resilient member are positioned entirely within said housing when said solenoid is in said active configuration, wherein said controller places said solenoid in said inactive configuration when said RFID scanner receives a signal from said RFID tag indicative that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with said surgical stapling instrument, wherein a portion of said bolt extends outside of said housing when said solenoid is in said inactive configuration, wherein said portion of said bolt prevents proximal movement of said lockout member when said solenoid is in said inactive configuration, and wherein said lockout member pushes said sled distally as said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw and said solenoid is in said inactive configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical stapling instrument is unable to perform the stapling firing stroke when said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible with said surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
       3. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein distal movement of said sled caused by said lockout member prevents said surgical stapling instrument from performing the staple firing stroke. 
     
     
       4. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a firing member configured to translate said sled along a firing path during the staple firing stroke. 
     
     
       5. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 4 , wherein said proximal end of said lockout member comprises a lateral projection, wherein a portion of said lateral projection engages said firing member. 
     
     
       6. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein channels are defined within said cartridge body, and wherein said distal end of said lockout member is sized to be received within one of said channels. 
     
     
       7. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said solenoid is in said inactive configuration until a compatible staple cartridge is detected by said controller. 
     
     
       8. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said solenoid is in said inactive configuration when said replaceable staple cartridge is not seated in said first jaw. 
     
     
       9. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor and a power source, wherein said power source is prevented from supplying power to said electric motor when said solenoid is in said inactive configuration. 
     
     
       10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an elongate shaft; 
 an end effector, comprising:
 a first jaw; and 
 a second jaw; 
 
 a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in said first jaw, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body comprising a cartridge deck; 
 staples removably stored in said cartridge body; 
 a sled configured to drive said staples out of said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a proximal portion; and 
 an RFID tag comprising stored information; 
 
 an RFID scanner configured to communicate with said RFID tag as said replaceable staple cartridge is being seated in said first jaw; 
 a controller; 
 a lockout member comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said distal end of said lockout member contacts said proximal portion of said sled as said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw, wherein said lockout member is configured to translate proximally along a path when said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with said surgical instrument; and 
 a blocking bolt system, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a bolt; 
 a resilient member; and 
 an inductive coil, wherein said controller places said blocking bolt system in an active configuration when said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with said surgical instrument, wherein said bolt is positioned outside of said path of said lockout member when said blocking bolt system is in said active configuration, wherein said controller places said blocking bolt system in an inactive configuration when said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with said surgical instrument, wherein said bolt is positioned within said path of said lockout member when said blocking bolt system is in said inactive configuration, wherein said bolt prevents the proximal translation of said lockout member when said blocking bolt system is in said inactive configuration, and wherein said lockout member pushes said sled distally as said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw and said blocking bolt system is in said inactive configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with said surgical instrument when said RFID scanner fails to receive a signal from said RFID tag. 
     
     
       12. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with said surgical instrument when said RFID scanner receives a signal from said RFID tag comprising data representative of an incompatible staple cartridge. 
     
     
       13. The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein said incompatible staple cartridge comprises a spent staple cartridge. 
     
     
       14. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein said surgical instrument is unable to perform the stapling firing stroke when said controller determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible with said surgical instrument. 
     
     
       15. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein distal movement of said sled caused by said lockout member prevents said surgical instrument from performing the staple firing stroke. 
     
     
       16. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising a firing member configured to translate said sled along a firing path during the staple firing stroke, wherein said proximal end of said lockout member comprises a lateral projection, and wherein a portion of said lateral projection engages said firing member. 
     
     
       17. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein channels are defined within said cartridge body, and wherein said distal end of said lockout member is sized to be received within one of said channels. 
     
     
       18. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein said RFID scanner transmits an interrogation signal to said RFID tag, and wherein said blocking bolt system is in said inactive configuration when said RFID scanner fails to receive a response signal to said interrogation signal. 
     
     
       19. The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising an electric motor and a power source, wherein said power source is prevented from supplying power to said electric motor when said blocking bolt system is in said inactive configuration. 
     
     
       20. A replaceable staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body comprising a cartridge deck; 
 staples removably positioned within said cartridge body; 
 a sled configured to drive said staples out of said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke; and 
 an RFID tag comprising stored information, wherein said RFID tag is in communication with an RFID scanner of the surgical instrument as said replaceable staple cartridge is being attached to the surgical instrument, wherein said sled is advanced distally within said replaceable staple cartridge as said replaceable staple cartridge is being attached to the surgical instrument when a controller of the surgical instrument determines that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with the surgical instrument, and wherein the controller prevents the surgical instrument from performing the staple firing stroke when said determined incompatible staple cartridge is attached to the surgical instrument. 
 
     
     
       21. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
 an end effector; 
 a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in said end effector, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body; 
 staples removably stored in said cartridge body; 
 a sled configured to deploy said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke; and 
 an RFID component comprising stored information; 
 
 an RFID scanner configured to interrogate said RFID component when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said end effector; 
 a controller; 
 a lockout member, wherein said sled contacts said lockout member when said replaceable staple cartridge is being seated in said end effector; and 
 a blocking system configurable in a blocking configuration and an unblocking configuration, wherein said blocking system comprises a movable stop, wherein said controller places said blocking system in said unblocking configuration based on said controller determining that said replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with said surgical stapling system, wherein said controller places said blocking system in said blocking configuration based on said RFID scanner receiving a signal from said RFID component indicative that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with said surgical stapling system, wherein said movable stop prevents proximal movement of said lockout member based on said blocking system being in said blocking configuration, and wherein said lockout member pushes said sled distally as said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said end effector based on said blocking system being in said blocking configuration. 
 
     
     
       22. A replaceable staple cartridge for use with a surgical system, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body; 
 staples removably positioned within said cartridge body; 
 a sled configured to deploy said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke; and 
 a storage medium comprising stored information, wherein a scanner of said surgical system communicates with said storage medium as said replaceable staple cartridge is being attached to the surgical system, wherein said sled is advanced distally within said replaceable staple cartridge as said replaceable staple cartridge is being attached to the surgical system based on a controller of the surgical system determining that said replaceable staple cartridge is incompatible for use with the surgical system, and wherein the controller prevents the surgical system from performing the staple firing stroke based on said determined incompatible staple cartridge being attached to the surgical system.